How to Get a Category A2 Driving Licence in Belgium?

A Category A2 driving license (in Dutch, rijbewijs categorie A2; in French, permis de conduire catégorie A2) is Belgium’s mid-power motorcycle license, the middle rung between the entry-level A1 and the fully unrestricted Class A. It lets you ride motorcycles up to 35 kW (48 PS) with a power-to-weight ratio of no more than 0.2 kW/kg. This guide goes in depth on what Class A2 actually covers in Belgium, exactly how the two routes to get it work, the training structure, and what the AVB/AVD practical test involves.

In Belgium, motorcycle licenses are administered regionally. Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels each run their own exam centers and training frameworks under the federal legal framework set by the FPS Mobility and Transport. Our driving license in Belgium and license eligibility pages are good starting points.

What is a Class A2 license in Belgium?

Class A2 authorizes you to ride motorcycles with a motor output of up to 35 kW (roughly 48 PS) and a power-to-weight ratio not exceeding 0.2 kW per kilogram of the motorcycle’s unladen weight. This is the harmonized EU definition, applied identically in Belgium. There is no engine-capacity (cc) limit built into the A2 definition itself; what matters legally is power output and the power-to-weight ratio.

Where does A2 sit in the Belgian motorcycle ladder

Belgium’s motorcycle ladder has three steps, and Belgium sets its ages a step above the EU baseline at every level:

• A1: motorcycles up to 125 cc, 11 kW and 0.1 kW/kg, from age 18.
• A2: motorcycles up to 35 kW and 0.2 kW/kg, from age 20.
• A: motorcycles with no power restriction, from age 24 by direct entry, or 22 if you have held A2 for at least two years.

Class A automatically includes the entitlement to ride A1- and A2-category vehicles as well, so the latter is genuinely cumulative, but A2 is a real, standalone destination in its own right for many riders.

What can you actually ride with an A2 license?

With Class A2, you can ride any motorcycle, naked, sport, adventure, or cruiser, provided it meets the 35 kW / 0.2 kW/kg limits, on all Belgian roads, including motorways. If a motorcycle’s standard factory output exceeds 35 kW, it can be supplied in a power-restricted (“gedrosseld”/“bridée”) version, but only if the machine’s original, unrestricted output does not exceed 70 kW.

Two routes to A2: direct entry and staged access

There are two ways to reach Class A2 in Belgium:

• Direct entry: if you don’t already hold Class A1, you complete the full theory and practical training package and sit both the theory and practical exams from age 20.
• Staged access: if you have already held Class A1 for at least two years, you skip the theory exam entirely (the theory pass carries across A1, A2 and A) and only need to pass the practical test on an A2-spec motorcycle.

The theory exam

The theory exam is shared across A1, A2, and A: it’s an audiovisual, computer-based test in French or Dutch comprising 50 multiple-choice questions, and you need at least 41 correct to pass. It costs around €15 and is taken at one of the regional test centers. Once you’ve passed it for any motorcycle category, you don’t retake it when moving up the ladder, so if you already hold A1, this step is behind you.

The practical exam: AVB and AVD

Every Belgian motorcycle practical test runs in two mandatory stages, taken strictly in order:

• AVB (vehicle-control test on private terrain) low-speed maneuvers and machine handling, assessed off public roads.
• AVD (on-road test) ais  supervised road ride of at least 30 minutes, with the examiner following and giving instructions by radio.

You must pass AVB before attempting AVD. If you choose the driving-school-plus-private-training combination route, passing AVB gets you a provisional license valid for one year, after which you practice independently for at least one month before sitting AVD.

Training pathways

You can prepare either through a driving school that offers direct access to both parts of the test or through a combination of a driving school and private practice. Training requirements and exact lesson counts vary between Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels, as each region administers its own framework. Confirm current hour counts with your local exam center or driving school before booking.

Medical requirements

As with car licenses, applicants must meet Belgium’s standard medical fitness requirements, including an eyesight test, before their license is issued.

Automatic transmission restriction

Worth knowing: if you take the AVD practical exam on a motorcycle with automatic transmission, your license is restricted to automatic machines under EU-wide code 78. If you want to ride any motorcycle, take the test on a manual.

Does A2 include A1?

Yes. Because Class A2 covers a strictly wider power range than A1, holding A2 also entitles you to ride A1-category vehicles. You don’t need to hold A1 separately once you have A2.

Upgrading from A2 to full Class A later

If you’ve held Class A2 for at least two years, you can move up to the fully unrestricted Class A at age 22 rather than waiting until 24 for direct entry. You’ll still need to pass the AVB and AVD practical tests on an A-spec motorcycle, but the theory exam is already behind you.

Validity and card format

Belgian driving licenses, including Class A2, are issued on the standard EU credit-card-format photocard and carry the harmonized EU administrative validity period before renewal is required. Confirm the current validity period with your regional licensing authority when your card is issued.

How is your license actually issued?

Your driving school or exam center handles the paperwork with the regional authority once you pass the required tests. You then receive your license card showing the Class A2 entitlement.

Tips for getting your Class A2 license in Belgium

• If you already hold A1, you skip the theory exam entirely and book the AVB and AVD practical tests.
• Confirm regional training requirements with your local exam center before booking lessons, since Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels each run things slightly differently.
• Take the AVD test on a manual bike unless you only want to ride automatics.
• Book AVB and AVD in order; you cannot skip ahead to the road test.
• Keep your theory pass certificate on file, since it carries across A1, A2, and A.

Reach the middle of the motorcycle ladder.

A Class A2 license opens up a genuinely capable range of mid-size motorcycles in Belgium. As you progress through the licensing system and, in time, toward professional car, truck, or bus categories, you can register in the driver section, explore vacancies, and see what employers are hiring for on FastDriver.eu, along with our guides on the jobs pages.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. License categories, vehicle definitions, ages, medical standards, training requirements, and fees can change and may vary by region and by authority in Belgium. Always confirm the current rules with the official Belgian government sources before making decisions. The authoritative information is on the government’s FPS Mobility and Transport pages, and the EU framework is in the EUR-Lex text of Directive (EU) 2025/2205. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for actions taken based on this information.